The Faire (Harrow Faire #5) - Kathryn Ann Kingsley Page 0,5
looked up as someone walked into her tent. She expected it to be Simon. Or worse, Ringmaster. She knew they were coming for her, and sooner rather than later. She had destroyed a man. Not to mention the whole “existential threat to Turk’s righteous mission” thing.
But it wasn’t a tall man who walked into the tent—skinny or wide. It was a short, little old woman. She smiled at Cora. It was Soothsayer.
“Oh. Hi, Maggie.” Cora tilted her head curiously at the old woman. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Nobody ever expects fate when it arrives.” The woman’s thick Jersey accent was still amusing to Cora, but now wasn’t the time to laugh or tease her about it. “Ringmaster’s already taken Simon, you know. They’re on their way here to get you next.”
Cora cringed. “I should have been there with him.”
“Why? So you could have watched Simon get his face knocked in?” Maggie snorted and walked up to the stage and sat down next to her. “You young ones and your need to be so bloody about everything.”
“Simon and Turk are older than you.”
“I suppose.” She shrugged. “I feel older. Sometimes I feel the age of the whole Faire. Clown and I had that in common, if for very different reasons.”
Cora went quiet and looked off through the entrance of the tent, waiting to see a crowd with pitchforks coming for her. She also didn’t know how to respond to any comments about Clown.
“I know who he was.” Maggie patted her knee. “I know what he gave you. I know what Harrow Faire has probably asked you to do. I also know who that man was that you killed last night and what he did to you so long ago. You don’t need to clam up around me. Soothsayer sees all.”
That was kind of a relief, even if it was just a little creepy. “Turk’s going to shove me in the tower, isn’t he?”
“He’ll have to have a trial first. Those are the rules. You’ll get to stand up and say your piece. Not sure how many people will join your side. I see all, but that doesn’t mean I know all.”
“I thought your gig was to see the future?” Cora shot the other woman a raised eyebrow.
“That’s everyone’s big mistake. Do you know how easy it is to predict the future when you know everything that is? One, plus one, plus one equals what?” Maggie held up a craggy hand and drew a line in the air in front of her. “It’s easy to see all the patterns. But when things go crazy, when the answer isn’t three, but seventeen, even I can’t tell you what’s going to happen next. Moments like this are…exciting. When everything is up in the air.”
“I hate it.” Cora propped her arms on her knees. She couldn’t take her eyes off the opening of the tent. Any minute now, everything was going to go sideways. Again.
“Of course you do. You’re in the middle of it.” Maggie sighed. “That’s not why I’m here. I’ve got nothing to say about the ruckus that’s about to unfold.” She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m neutral. Fate doesn’t pick sides. If it did, oh, all hell would break loose.” She chuckled.
“Then what? I mean, I appreciate the pre-torture social call and all, don’t get me wrong.” Cora smirked.
Maggie laughed. “You’ve been around Simon too much. You’re picking up his sense of humor.”
“Nah. I’ve always had that sense of humor. He just encourages it.”
“You two are adorable together, do you know that?” Maggie reached into her quilted coat and fished out a dated pack of cigarettes and an old-fashioned Zippo.
Cora glanced at the vintage cigarettes. “Have you had that pack for sixty years, or does the Faire create them like that?”
Maggie cackled. “The latter. I smoke a pack a day. Always have. Thought it would be what killed me. I was wrong on that count, huh?” She put a cigarette between her lips and flicked the Zippo. After hers was glowing, she offered Cora one from the pack.
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
“Better off. Ugly, blasted things.” Maggie shrugged a shoulder. “But when you’re hooked, you’re hooked.” She paused. “I’m here about Simon. Not like I mind chatting with you.”
“Oh?”
Maggie nodded. “One piece of advice for you. One last word from me before you’re on your own. Either you do this together, or you don’t do it at all.”
Cora raised an eyebrow at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”